An Inspector Calls is a play which was written by John Boynton Priestley in 1912, and it was set in the theatre on the 1st of October 1946. Priestley uses the play as an example of what can happen if we are ignorant to the feelings of others. Priestley believed a great deal in socialism and he used several of his plays to try and influence people to be Socialist. The audience does not find a great deal out about the Inspector and nothing is explicitly told to us; we are given hints and clues from the way he acts and what he says and are forced to piece these together to form our own ideas about his identity and his intentions.
An Inspector Calls is a play about a family called the Birling family. One day, when they were celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila, and when they were having fun, an inspector comes, and turns the happy night into misery.
Every character gives a first impression, and Sheila is one of them. Sheila is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited My first impressions when I heard Sheilas quote was that shes an immature, nave girl, and shes happy and enjoying life.
When Sheila heard about the girls death, she begins to be more caring, and her character starts to change. Oh-how horrible. Was it an accident? this quote is showing that she starts to be caring, and she starts asking more questions to know more about the girl maybe she could help. The dash means that she paused, and this shows how shocked she is.
Sheilas reaction to questioning was quite strong, but these girls arent cheap labour-theyre people Sheila was standing up for these girls, shes doing what she believes is right, and she doesnt agree with what her dad said, he didnt care about Eva Smith when she wanted to get paid more money so he fired her, he was talking like they werent people, shes saying this like she knows how these people feel.
Sheila begins to feel that the inspector was blaming her and the family, so she got angry and said what do you mean by saying that? You talk as if we were responsible? she starts to defend herself and her family, because she cares about them all and she doesnt want any of them to be in trouble, and get hurt.
After the inspector was gone, Sheila was quite confused thats all she said this like she wanted to be asked more questions, and shes not sure that she did the right thing by saying the truth about what she did to Eva Smith, its like she expected to be asked more questions or something else happens like get blamed for it and goes to jail, and she feels like she disserves it.
When Sheila heard that inspector Goole wasnt a real inspector, she said (bitterly) I suppose were all nice people now. Bitterly shows that shes being sarcastic, and she didnt mean what she said, she meant the opposite. She said this because when they said the truth about everything it makes them nice people, but it doesnt, and she thought that they all were a nice and a perfect family, but her thoughts were wrong after she heard what everyone in her family had done.
Sheilas character changed from a girl who had a perfect life, to a caring girl. She couldnt keep the truth from the inspector because he seems to know it already.
Mrs Birling sounded very posh and heartless when I read her first quote a rather cold woman.
Mrs Birling was very calm when the Inspector arrived My husband has just explained why youre here, and while well be glad to tell you anything you want to know, I dont think we can help you much this quote shows us that Mrs Birling doesnt care about whatever the inspector wants, and she doesnt want to help much, because she knows that she doesnt have anything to do with this girl. She thinks that it was Evas fault for using her name (Mrs Birling) and she should find the real father of the baby. She didnt want to take any responsibility about Eva.
When the inspector begins to ask Mrs Birling the questions, she answered angrily. Well, come along-what is it you want to know this shows that she wants the inspector to ask the questions as fast as possible because she wants him to leave quickly; shes wasting her time for nothing. This suggests that she doesnt care about the poor girl, and she doesnt want to help. She has other stuff to do in the house which is better than this waste of time.
When the Inspector leaves Mrs Birling was ashamed of her son Eric, because of his drinking problem. (Coming to life) I should think not. Eric, Im absolutely ashamed of you Eric has brought shame to the family and shes going to be embarrassed if people will know about it, so she gets angry. This tells us that she loves Eric and hes the youngest, and she didnt expect this to happen from him.
When Mrs Birling hears that Inspector Goole wasnt a real inspector, she was surprised and worried, I felt it all the time. He never talked like one. He never even looked like one. She didnt know that hes not a real Inspector; if she did she shouldve said it. She was trying to look like she wasnt fooled by him, like everyone else did.
Mrs Birlings character doesnt seem to change in the play; it stays the same cold woman.
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